Friday, January 16, 2004
By KRISTEN ENEVOLD, CALGARY SUN

Curiosity didn't kill the abandoned cat found by two teenage boys near a
dumpster -- instead, their quick thinking saved the feline's life.

Blake MacPherson and Josh Strnad will be recognized today after they decided
to investigate the contents of a lunchbag in an alley near their school, on
their way to catch a bus.

"It wasn't moving or making any noise or anything, we just wanted to see
what was inside," said Josh, a Grade 8 student at Juno Beach Academy in the
city's northwest.

"I picked it up and it felt heavy -- I didn't know what it was, so I
unzipped the bag and these eyes were staring at me."

The shaking kitten was alert but scared, so the two pals decided to walk a
few more blocks to a nearby store.

From there, they called the MEOW Foundation, a non-profit group that helps
Calgarians adopt abandoned cats.

After a quick checkup from a vet, the five-month-old kittie, now named
Ursula, was given a clean bill of health and is waiting for her adoptive
family, said Donna Slemko, a MEOW volunteer.

"Someone did a terrible thing by shoving this poor cat in a bag, and she
wouldn't have had a second chance if it wasn't for those two boys," she
said.

Ursula and the boys will be reunited again today, when the foundation
formally thanks them for saving the kitten's life.